Still unclear at press time was how Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 91 will affect general aviation, particularly business aircraft and private aircraft with mtows exceeding 12,500 lb. Already issued as a final rule effective October 1, it requires all aircraft operators that access the “sterile area” of a Part 107 airport to search aircraft and screen passengers, crewmembers, other persons and their accessible property before departure. The second part of the SFAR gives the FAA authority to require “screening procedures” for operators of aircraft with a mtow greater than 12,500 lb.
NBAA and NATA, which have been closely following the rule, said Part 107 Airport Security rules define a sterile area as an area “to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property in accordance with an approved security program.” Individual airports define the specific boundaries of sterile areas.
